In the late 1980s, Toyota began a billion-dollar quest: to build the world’s quietest, most refined V8. The result was the 1UZ-FE—a 4.0-liter, all-aluminum marvel that powered the Lexus LS 400 and redefined reliability.
But Toyota’s engineers didn’t stop there. They refined it so thoroughly—with such unshakable durability—that it eventually earned a rare honor: certification by the FAA to power airplanes.
In a collaboration with Hamilton Standard, a twin-turbo aviation version called the FV2400-2TC was born, producing 360 horsepower and lifting experimental aircraft into the sky.
It’s more than a motor. It’s a monument to engineering ambition—proof that when you build something with uncompromising care, it doesn’t just move cars. It helps machines fly.
References:
Toyota Global – History of the 1UZ-FE Engine
Federal Aviation Administration – Type Certificate Data Sheet
Sport Aviation Magazine – “Automotive Powerplants in Experimental Aircraft”
Lexus Archives – The F1 Project & LS 400 Development Story
But Toyota’s engineers didn’t stop there. They refined it so thoroughly—with such unshakable durability—that it eventually earned a rare honor: certification by the FAA to power airplanes.
In a collaboration with Hamilton Standard, a twin-turbo aviation version called the FV2400-2TC was born, producing 360 horsepower and lifting experimental aircraft into the sky.
It’s more than a motor. It’s a monument to engineering ambition—proof that when you build something with uncompromising care, it doesn’t just move cars. It helps machines fly.
References:
Toyota Global – History of the 1UZ-FE Engine
Federal Aviation Administration – Type Certificate Data Sheet
Sport Aviation Magazine – “Automotive Powerplants in Experimental Aircraft”
Lexus Archives – The F1 Project & LS 400 Development Story
